Traditions

Armenian Traditions for the Presentation of Our Lord

In Armenia the Feast of the Presentation of Our Lord to
the Temple is called Dyarnuntarach. It relays the idea of going
forward (-untarach) to see the Lord (Dyarn-).

It is also cald Candlemas, a reference
to how the devout Simeon, who received Jesus from Mary at the temple
that day, referred to Jesus as the "light of revelation". The
night before the feast, Armenians traditionally light candles during
an evening church service, carrying the flame out into the darkness
(symbolically bringing light into the void), and either take it home
to light lamps or light a bonfire in the church courtyard.

Combining pre-Christian Armenian traditions with
this Christmas celebration, the festivities included dancing, and as
the celebration grew, young men would leap over the fire.

The Armenian celebration of the Lord's presentation has been influenced
by pre-Christian Armenian customs, such as the spreading of ashes by
farmers in their fields each year to ensure better harvests, keeping
ashes on the roof of a house to keep evil spirits away, and the belief
that newlywed women needed to jump over fire to purify themselves before
getting pregnant.